Probe finds ex-DGP's allegation of faulty EVM 'baseless'

The election department on Saturday said the allegation levelled by former DGP Harekrishna Deka about faulty EVM was found to be "baseless" in an enquiry.

Deka had complained that during the polling for Gauhati Lok Sabha constituency in the third phase on April 23, the symbol on which he had pressed the button and the one the VVPAT showed were not the same.

This created a furor and the opposition raised questions over EVM's temper-proof claim by the EC.

An enquiry was conducted by the District Election Officer (DEO) of Kamrup Metropolitan on April 23 itself.

"In this regard, the sector and the zonal officers of that polling station visited and verified with the public and voters as to the proper and accurate functioning of the EVM and VVPAT used in the actual polling process," the DEO said in his report to the state CEO.

Though the report was sent to the CEO on the same day, it was made available to the media on the night of Saturday which is a government holiday here.

The report said mock poll was conducted before the actual voting started in presence of the agents of candidates of the constituency and no complaints were received from them.

Deka had said when he complained to the presiding officer of the booth about the alleged malfunction of the machine, the polling official asked him to file a formal complaint, which bears a punitive action if found false.

However, the former DGP did not file a formal complaint.

In his report, the DEO stressed this point and said there was no foul play by the presiding officer or any other polling officials.

The presiding officer had also asked Deka to go for a test vote as per rules by signing a declaration, but he refused to do so, the report claimed.

"It can be concluded that the allegations made is baseless and without any truth in it," the DEO said.

The three-phase voting for 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam took place on April 11, 18 and 23, while counting of votes will be on May 23 after completion of the entire seven-phase election across the country.